Naseeruddin Shah

KARACHI, Pakistan — The first Pakistani film up for Oscar consideration in half a century faces 75 foreign-language rivals from around the world, many made with much larger budgets and far slicker marketing campaigns. It must survive the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's winnowing process that narrows the field to five before the envelope opens at the Dolby Theatre on March 2.

For the filmmakers of the low-budget "Zinda Bhaag" set in the back alleys of Lahore, however, getting the film into Pakistan's few cinemas and showing the world a different side of their country is in itself a big win. The movie opens Friday in Los Angeles

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KARACHI, Pakistan — The first Pakistani film up for Oscar consideration in half a century faces 75 foreign-language rivals from around the world, many made with much larger budgets and far slicker marketing campaigns. It must survive the Academy of Motion...